Throwing cash at problems not solution

The Senate is facing the politically uncomfortable prospect of raising the limit on the national debt — again — to somewhere north of $13 trillion.

Senate Democrats are seeking a way to fold the admission of fiscal malpractice into some larger spending bill, hoping it won’t be noticed — and exploited politically.

President Barack Obama is not making things easier with his flirtation with the idea of paying Social Security recipients an extra $250 next year, apparently just for being seniors.

The $787-billion “stimulus” bill passed in February raised the debt limit to $12.1 trillion. But new spending approved since then will require another increase, and congressional Democrats would rather do it this year than next, which is an election year.

Among the ploys being considered is tacking it onto a Defense appropriations bill, so they can say they did it not because of the administration’s fiscal incontinence, but because they wanted to support the troops.

Meanwhile, President Obama is toying with the idea of giving 57 million Social Security recipients an entitlement to which they aren’t entitled.

Recipients get a cost-of-living adjustment each year. Last year it was 5.8 percent, reflecting rising energy prices — which have since declined.

This year the cost of living as the government calculates it declined 4 percent. So there will be no COLA and seniors’ money will go farther.

But increasing disillusionment among seniors with the administration’s health insurance proposals troubles the White House.

What to do?

Hey, maybe a $250 bonus (stimulus by another name?) would get them to pipe down.